Molineux, who’s taken the reins of the national team in all formats from Alyssa Healy, has been unable to play a full role in her first overseas assignment as skipper in the Caribbean following a back injury that’s being carefully managed as she’s returned towards full fitness, but this series was seen as a vital chance to build the new leadership group ahead of June’s T20 World Cup.
That’s meant her spinning prowess has been kept under wraps and she’s only had one chance to bat – down at No. 8 in the final match won on DLS in St Vincent – but that didn’t stop the 28-year-old being garlanded for the manner she guided the side to a 3-0 win.
“She’s been amazing, on and off the field,” head coach Shelley Nitschke said “It’s been so important for the team and for her to be here and leading the group. Just having a new leadership group here has been excellent, and really valuable to have them in place in the lead in to a World Cup.
“We know what Sophie can do with the ball, but unfortunately, she’s unable to bowl at the moment, but just being able to be out there, to lead the group, and have a really good contribution with the bat in the final match was important.”
Molineux enjoyed her hard-hitting knock, revealing that she’s been working on her power game, and felt her side had shown the sort of ruthlessness over the three matches that may have gone missing of late.
“It’s been a big focus for us, winning the big moments and consistently getting back to being ruthless,” she said. “Each game we’ve gotten better with the bat, and in the field as well. I feel like we’ve learned a lot as a group, and I suppose as a staff, that we need to work on, and how we plan the next couple of months leading into the World Cup.
“It was nice to get a bit more experience out there leading that team.”
Next up for Molineux will be to try to repeat the dose in the ODI series between the two sides, with the first of the three matches taking place on Friday in St Kitts.
